Darren Lehmann came out and said these two would open the batting in the first Test. This choice was proven to be the right one on Tuesday night with Watson and Rogers putting on 170 for the first wicket against Worcestershire. These two complement each other well. Both have experience in English conditions and have had success there.

Khawaja is a favorite with Roarers and under Lehmann, he will get a good run in the side and will prosper with a bit of stability.

Next in is the backbone of the Australian batting line up and would need a year of straight ducks to get dropped – Phillip Hughes. I am not a big fan of Hughes, but he has impressed in the warm-up games and deserves a spot in the side.

Smith is a different player than the one sent into exile by Australian cricket fans and has matured into a player of Test standard.

My wicketkeeper is:

Brad Haddin – Test average = 35.50 (44 Tests)

Haddin brings a mature brain into the Australian team, and is better behind the stumps than Wade as well.

Pattinson is Australia’s best bowler and is probably the first choice while being picked. Starc is the most dangerous of the Australian bowlers, more so in English conditions. Unfortunately, his good bowling is mixed with a lot of rubbish. Starc is young and will only improve, and I think some faith in his bowling is needed.

I wish I could have put Harris in for Starc, but Harris is too much of an injury concern. He could very easily leave us a bowler down in a match. Bird is the bowler who will tie batsman down and draw a false shot. He will be economical and deadly at the same time.

Lyon is the only spinner in the Ashes squad, which makes him an automatic selection. Hopefully, India has affected him positively.

The Crowd Says (107)

Agree with everything there, although a little more optimistic on our chances, from the point of view that while we are not great, are England much better? They have looked awful at times recently. Probably Warner will replace Smith or Hughes if they do not perform in T1 or T2.

I think the bowling is 2 of Siddle v Starc and Harris v Bird. If Harris is in we need Siddles workrate but if the selectors give us the Bird they can gamble on Starc going for a few and its the XI listed.

What are your thoughts on why Khawaja not playing……I can’t see any logic too it, but he must be in otherwise he deserved a chance to press his claims as much as smith or cowan. However, if in, surely he needs the practice, ho hum.

Bird will play for sure, he now has 3 wickets in 8 balls on a flat deck including an in form compton. Can’t possibly ignore that…..fascinating stuff. By the way I am a huge Harris fan, but Bird must now have his nose in front.

Really think Watto (STF-Subject to Fitness as I’ll refer to him) given his injury problems. STF’s major injury problems have all come from bowling. Why keep doing it if it means he won’t be able to bat properly. Use him as a last resort.

i agree the timing of resting Siddle for that test was very poor, i suggest the rotation policy actually works. Don’t we have our best bowlers (maybe minus Cummins) in England all fit and ready to go? Our batting is so poor the only reason we have hope is because the bowling looks good. I am not sure we should discount the policy altogether.

I’m not sure how you’ve come to that conclusion? Starc and Bird both left India because they had injuries that needed surgery. Pattinson got through India but missed most of the summer because of injury while Harris hasn’t played for Australia in a test match since April 2012 and missed the vast majority of last summer with injury. The only player who you can really argue has benefited from the policy is Siddle but even then we have no way of knowing if he would have been injured if he hadn’t been rested for the Perth test.

It seems the real reason we have our quicks available is because there was a big break between the India tour and the Ashes/”A” tour to let our bowlers recover. Obviously there was the IPL but Harris was the only quick involved this year and he played 3 games.